justwannaquilt

I have the clover mini iron, it was used once....and I got a third degree burn on my index finger! no fun. I don't know that it will be used again! lol

tellabella

I use mine for starch method applique but it doesn't have all the different tips...works well and gets hot...also have a small mini iron that is great for pressing seams open and I like it when I am tired as I have bad wrists and it is light to handle...

bgullett

I had one and sold it. Hated it. Burnt my fingers, not hot enough for fabric, but was for skin.

JanEve

I have the one that comes in colors and use it all the time. It gets really hot and works great on my applique projects. I got it at JoAnns for half price ($5.00)

gmaybee

I've had the older clover for years and just puchased the new one with the interchangable tips last week at Joanns with a 40% coupon. One thing I learned with my other one was not to use the little stand they give you. I reached over one time and grabbed the wrong end, and ended up with a nasty burn. It's like grabbing a curling iron on the hot end. (never done that) When using the little iron I got a crock and started putting it in that with the handle sticking out. No more burned hands because the hot end is in the crock. Put the crock on a padded surface as it can get pretty hot.

KimS

I know this is getting off the subject but your furbaby is gorgeous!! :-)

KimS

I just ordered the Sharptek iron. I think as clumsy as I can be this would be better for me than the one I was originally looking at and especially after reading how some have burned themselves with it.

thepolyparrot

I burned myself on the wand-type a few times too, but you get used to handling it differently real quick! That little iron teaches you respect! ;)

What I like about these smaller irons is that when you're trying to pull a seam allowance flat on a tiny little applique piece, you can get the irons right up next to your fingers and not burn yourself - you feel the heat, but not like with a full-sized iron.

With the Sharptek, the cord kept pulling out of the side (disconnecting itself) so I unplugged it from the wall, pushed the plug very firmly into the side of the iron and coated the join with E6000 silicone glue. Let it sit for a couple of days and problem solved. :)

I just got the new Textile Tool by Walnut Hollow in the mail today - one of the ironing plates is only about 1/4" long, so I'm looking forward to trying it.

One of the tips is a stencil burner/cutter - but I don't think that's going to help much with the no-melt mylar template material. I tried cutting that stuff with a soldering iron and it did not cut a clean line at all - big bubbly blobs along the edges. Maybe I can use it to cut quilting stencils, though.

quiltbuddy

I bought a similar one at JoAnn and it didn't get hot enough for applique. Returned it and bought a small full size iron that I like (Sharp). I do a lot of starch and press applique and a sharp edge and point really seems to help.

thepolyparrot

Apparently a lot of the mini-irons don't get hot on the first try. You have to plug/unplug them a few times to get them to reach a good temperature for starching appliques.

I can't imagine why it works, but I actually had to turn the heat down to medium after I'd used it a few times.